Electrically lighted wall switch plate



Dec. 25, 1951 WHEELER, JR 2,580,056

ELECTRICALLY LIGHTED WALL SWITCH PLATE Filed Feb. 19, 1945 Y 2SHEETSSHEET l zo' W2 .27

grwQ/wbom, 7190/7/ 5 l. Wf/fflf/ZJK T. L. WHEELER, JR

ELECTRICALLY LIGHTED WALL SWITCH PLATE Dec. 25, 195] 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2Filed Feb. 19, 1945 Patented Dec. 25, 1951 ELEoraroALLY LIGHTED WALL Iswngen PLATE 'lilggmes 1. whegler, Colum 9 1i! Application-February l9,1945 Serial No, 578,69l

. Glaims- (01. Zlfir-Z) This invention relates to an electricallylighted wall switch-plate.

An object of this invention is the production of an automatic safetylight and pilot-indicator in the form of a novel plate designed forapplication over standard wall type toggle or push-button lightswitches. It incorporates a low-wattage neon bulb or glow lamp which isso connected that it li hts automatically when the light controlled bythe switch itself is turned off and goes off when the switch is turnedon.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a novel devicewhich presents a combination of novel features. The first of the saidfeatured advantages is that the light emitting from the switch-plate issufficient not only to indicate the position or whereabouts of theswitch in an otherwise dark room, but also pro- Vides a degree ofillumination which enables a person entering the room from a dark area,or arising from sleep within the room, to distinguish objects orobstacles therein, or to determine the confines of the room itself,withsufficient clarity to avoid collision with such obstacles, objects orconfines. The second of these features is that there is no aperture,grille or transparent insert of any kind in the plate through which thelight from the neon bulb or glow lamp passes in providing theillumination described above. A from direct view, exposure oraccessibility by virtue of being encased entirely beneath and enclosedby the outer surface of the plate, which is specially shaped to providea cavity, accessible only from the back of said plate. The light fromthe bulb is thus softened or diffused through the semi-transparentmaterial of which the plate is made, the plate being thin enough on thelower part of the reflector portion to permit light from the bulb orglow lamp to be transmited over the face of said plate, below thereflector portion.

With the foregoin and other objects in view, my invention comprisescertain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts aswill be hereinafter fully deseribed, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and more particularly i t q 1. 1 the app n e a m In thedrawings: y n

Fig. l is a view in front elevation of a wall switch-plate constructedin accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a diagram, showing a rear perspective view of the switchplate and a perspective View of a common type of wall switch, allconnected in electric circuit.

Instead the bulb is protected Figure 3 is a vertical, central sectionalview of the switch plate in its appliedposition upon a Wall switch.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on line 44, Fig. 3, andlooking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on line 5-5, Fig. 3, andlooking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a rear view in elevation of the switchplate, with thedetachable parts removed.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary rear view in elevation of the switch-plate,showing part of the detachable elements thereon.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line 8-8, Fig. 7, andlooking in the direction of the arrows. 4

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of element or plate.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the retainer element or plate.

Referring to the drawings, in which I have shown the preferredembodiment of my invention, I designates a wall in which the standardwall switch 2 is positioned. Attached by screws 3 to wall switch 2 is myimproved and novel switch-plate 4.

The switch-plate 4 is preferably provided with the supporting tworeinforcing ribs 5 on its back. "The wall switch-plate 4' is providedwith a semi-transparent outwardly and downwardly extending reflectingbulged portion 6 (Fig. 1), in which is formed an upper cavity or recess!(Fig. 6)"and a lower cavity or recess 8. These two recesses l and 8 aredivided by a horizontal partition III, which at its left-hand endterminates short of the left-hand end of the recesses for the purpose ofreceiving the wire I I (Fig. 9).

The upper part of the outwardly-bulged nonperforated integral portion 6is much thicker in cross section than the lower part thereof. In otherwords, the lower part of the outwardlybulged portion is thinner than theupper part. Consequently, the lower part of the outwardlybulged portionis a light transmitting area while the upper part thereof transmitslight to a lesser extent.

A supporting plate 5?, of any suitable material, has mounted thereon aglow lamp or -neon bulb I3 and a resistor element I4. When the termplate is used in this specification and claims, I do so in a broadsense, meaning any unit or element of the same novel construction anddesired material, as specified in this case. The resistor element l4fits into the upper recess 1,

and the neon bulb l3 fits into the lower recess 8 when plate I! is inposition on the switch-plate 4. Two upper inner lugs I5 extenddownwardly contiguous to recess 1, and two lower inner lugs extendupwardly, contiguous to the lower recess 8 (Fig. 6). The supportingplate I2 is of suflicient flexibility to be snapped under lugs 15 and15*, whereby the plate [2, as well as the parts carried thereby, areheld securely in position against accidental displacement.

The inside of the switch-plate 4 is also provided with a horizontaltransverse reinforcing rib l8 that is made of two parts, with thescrew-receiving aperture l1 between the inner ends of the parts, Fig. 6.On this two-part reinforcing rib IS, there are two upstanding lugs 18;these lugs will also be known as the lower outer lugs. Two upper lugs H3are formed on the switch-plate, and these lugs extend downwardly.Vertical reinforcing ribs !9 are above the two-part reinforcing rib l6;these ribs efliciently hold the ends of the retainingplate 20 (Fig. 10)in place when said retaining plate is in position upon the switch plate.This retaining plate 28 is preferably of substantially a U-shapedstructure. The retaining plate 29 is sprung into position behindretaining lugs l8 and I8 as shown in Fig. 7. Positioned between plate i2and plate 29 is a fibre cover sheet 2|, Fig. 8; this cover sheetprotects the outer face of the supporting plate l2.

It is to be understood that the retainer plate 20 rests near its endupon the reinforcing ribs l9, making a secure support for said retainerplate, as a snug fit is obtained thereby.

Referring to Fig. 2, 22 designates the line to the resistor, from theterminal 23 on wall switch 2, while 24 designates the line to the neonbulb from the terminal 25 on said wall switch 2. When the units areassembled as shown in Fig. 2, the fibre cover sheet 2! is placed inposition, and then the retainer plate 20 is placed in position,whereupon the switch-plate 4 can be placed in position (Fig. 3) so thatthe retaining screws 3 can be positioned to hold the switch-plats in anoperative position with respect to the wall switch 2. Of course, it isobvious that the lever 01' button 25 is positioned in the elongatedcentral aperture 21 of the switch-plate.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that I have provided retainingmeans for the supporting plate and its parts, as well as securing andsupporting means for the retainer plate, whereby the elements areefficiently secured in an assembled operative position. 7

It is to be also understood that when the light switch 2 is in the "ofiposition, the secondary circuit, limited by the resistor l4, draws onlyenough current through the "opened primary circuit to light the glowlamp or neon bulb in the switch-plate. When the wall switch is turnedon, thereby closing the primary circuit, the draw on the primary circuitis sufficient to drain the secondary circuit, thereby causing the neonbulb to automatically turn 011. When the wall switch is turned off, theoperation is reversed and the neon bulb again burns.

Referring to Figure 2, 2'! designates the wiring leading to the roomlight (not shown).

When desired, the position of the retaining plate 20, as shown in Figs.7, 8, and 10, can be reversed. The reason for reversing the position ofsaid fibre retaining plate 20 in the general assembly, is to provide forthe toggle switch bracket, that in some cases dovetails or sets into theface plate. This is only true when the toggle switch is placed in theswitch box when it is absolutely level or flush with the finished wall.

What I claim is:

1. An electrically lighted wall plate, provided with an outwardly bulgedportion having a resistor-receiving upper recess and a bulb-receivinglower recess, a set of lugs overhanging said upper recess, a set of lugsoverhanging said lower recess, and said wall plate being provided withouter sets of lugs, whereby a retainer plate can be held upon said wallplate behind said outer set of lugs.

2. An electrically lighted wall plate, provided with an outwardly bulgedreflector portion on its front face, said outwardly bulged reflectorportion having therein an upper recess and a lower recess, a horizontalreflector partition dividing said recesses, a set of inner dependinglugs and a set of upwardly extending lugs overhanging saidrecesses, saidwall plate also provided with a reinforcing rib, said reinforcing ribbeing provided witha pair of upstanding lugs, and said wall plateprovided near its top edge with a set of depending lugs, cooperatingwith said set of lugs on said reinforcing rib.

3. An electrically lighted wall plate, provided with an outwardly'bulgedreflector portion n its front face, said outwardly bulged reflectorportion having therein an upper recess and a lower recess, a horizontalreflector partition dividing said recesses, said partition terminatingshort of one edge of said recesses, a set of depending lugs overhanginga portion of said upper recess, a set of upwardly extending lugsoverhanging a portion of said lower recess, parallel verticalreinforcing ribs near, the edges of said recesses, a two-partreinforcing horizontal rib connected to the lower ends of said firstmentioned parallel ribs, said two-part reinforcing ribs being providedat-their contiguous ends with upstanding lugs, and said wall plateprovided near its top with a set of depending lugs,'cooperating withsaid lugs of the two-part reinforcing rib.

THOMAS L. WHEELER, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 959,387 Richmond May 24, 19101,110,038 Burns Sept. 8, 1914 1,342,744 Evans June 8, 1920 1,698,839Dorsey Jan. 15, 1929 2,015,698 Tifiany Oct. 1, 1935 2,106,144 FloradayJan. 18, 1938 2,113,553 Dover Apr. 5, 1938 2,179,198 Reed Nov. 7, 19392,179,199 Reed Nov. 7, 1939 2,193,740 Reed Mar. 12, 1940 2,214,317 Bashet'al Sept. 10, 1940

